Women’s Involvement Level in Housework and Level of Irregularities in Public Service: The Need for Gender Sensitive Changes in Nigerian Work Policy (English version)

Because of low socioeconomic wellbeing status across most families, women in Nigeria are becoming more and more involved in regular employment, while still maintaining their traditional role of performing housework. Meaningful employment and ensuring a balanced family are quite imperative to Nigeria, but what are the current dimensions of their interaction and how significant could this interaction be? This study utilized a field data generated in Calabar metropolis, the capital city of Cross River State, South Nigeria. Findings reveal that housework, women’s traditional role, makes them to sometimes display certain irregularities in their regular employment. This play down by women in their regular employment to live up to societal expectation as home keepers is explained using identity-behaviour link theory. Consequently, the paper recommends appropriate work policies and working conditions that are more women and family institution friendly in Nigeria.